Partner Article

Ve Interactive Principals Appointed Ambassadors for Concern Universal

Concern Universal, the international development organisation that helps communities around the world find practical solutions to poverty, has appointed Ve Interactive’s CEO David Brown and Director of Communications, Kathy Heslop as ambassadors for the charity.

Serial entrepreneurs David and Kathy are co founders of the award-winning British technology company. It has been donating its commercial services to Concern Universal since July 2011, the objective of the collaboration; to provide support for the charity’s on-going digital strategy.

David and Kathy have a legacy of entrepreneuriasm with a triple bottom line focus. Their previous digital company, Serious, partnered with UNICEF and went on to raise funds and awareness for the organisation’s campaign on Children and AIDS. At Ve Interactive, David and Kathy are now continuing to create shared value, by aligning the company’s economic objectives with the social goal of supporting Concern Universal. It’s a non-traditional, innovative approach. On both occasions it was they who did their diligence and reached out to initiate the partnerships.

David explains: “Supporting the work of the third sector is a no brainer. Issues caused by cuts in public sector funding and falling donations in this tough economy can go some way to being addressed through collaborations with commercial enterprises and their networks, and by using emerging technologies to reach donors. The team here at Ve calls it ‘TechAid’ and is very proud to help. It’s a responsibility felt right across the company.”

“We were both always impressed by the diversity of projects that Concern Universal supports,” explains Kathy, “as well as their geographic reach, economic efficiency and sustainability, so we are thrilled to be asked to become ambassadors; it’s both a delight and a surprise in equal measure! We willingly offer our business acumen and experience, as well as the continued collective strength of our global operation, to help progress Concern Universal’s important work in lifting more people out of poverty.”

Dr Ian Williams, Executive Director of Concern Universal said: “ Alone, community-led development in poor countries will not end poverty. There is a need for wider policy change and a change in people’s attitude and practice. So alongside our nine country programmes, we seek to inspire and support ambassadors; ‘champions’ who find resonance with our vision, mission and values. Because of the particular regard with which David and Kathy are held, and their reach into influential audiences, we feel that they can make an enormous contribution to our cause.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathy Heslop .